Buying a new set of tires is an investment. It’s one of the most important purchases you make for your vehicle’s safety and performance. But here is the hard truth: the most expensive tires in the world will still fail prematurely if they aren't pointed in the right direction.
That’s why Tire Discounters is known as the Home of the Free Alignment. It’s not just a catchy slogan; it’s a core part of our history and our promise to you.
Chip Wood’s Vision: Protecting Your Investment
Years ago, our founder, Chip Wood, noticed a frustrating trend in the industry. People would spend good money on brand-new tires, drive off the lot, and wear them out in half the time because their car was misaligned.
It didn't sit right with him. He realized that selling tires without aligning the car was like selling a premium suit without tailoring it—it might look okay for a day, but it’s never going to fit right or last.
So, he made a decision that changed the game: If you buy 4 tires from us, we align your car. Free. Not because it’s a nice bonus, but because we want your investment to last as long as possible.
The "Check" vs. The "Fix"
Here is where it gets tricky in the car world. You’ll see a lot of places advertising a "Free Alignment Check."
Be careful with that word.
A "Check" just means they hook your car up to the machine, hand you a piece of paper with a lot of red ink on it, and say, "Yep, your alignment is bad. That'll be $130 to fix it." At Tire Discounters, we don't just check it. We do it. When you buy 4 tires, we perform the full, standard alignment to factory specifications. We ensure your wheels are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground, so you roll out the door maximizing every mile of that new rubber.
The Modern Challenge: Smart Cars Need Smart Alignments
Cars have changed since Chip started this company. Today’s vehicles are "smart," equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)—features like lane keep assist, collision braking, and adaptive cruise control.
These systems rely on pinpoint data from your vehicle's steering angle sensors. That means a modern alignment is more complicated than it used to be. If your mechanical alignment is off, your safety systems could be too, potentially causing them to fail or over-correct when you need them most.
Because of this, many manufacturers now require ADAS recalibration whenever a standard 4-wheel alignment is performed. While some shops might shy away from this complexity, we embrace it. We provide alignments for both ADAS and non-ADAS vehicles. Our expert techs are equipped with the advanced tools necessary to ensure that whether you drive a classic cruiser or a modern tech-heavy SUV, your vehicle leaves our shop calibrated, safe, and dialed in.
Why It Matters (More Than You Think)
When your car is out of alignment, two major things happen:
1. Your money disappears: Your tires "drag" instead of roll smooth. This causes uneven tread wear, meaning you might have to replace those new tires thousands of miles sooner than you should.
2. Your gas tank empties faster: That dragging creates resistance. A misaligned car has to work harder to move forward, which burns more fuel. In an economy where every gallon counts, driving straight literally saves you cash.
Ready to protect your ride?
Don't let a bad setup ruin a good set of tires. Stop in today and see why we’ve been the Home of the Free Alignment for decades. We fix it so you don't have to worry about it.
